The dream of achieving unlimited energy production has become a little bit clearer recently. As the global population increases and the AI race picks up steam, several nations have been contemplating the best measures to increase energy output and potentially unlock unlimited energy for the world. Nuclear energy is undoubtedly the most viable method to reach unlimited energy, but it requires significant testing to reach the dream of unlimited power. So what’s been the holdup, you ask?
A team of researchers recently made a breakthrough in our collective unlimited energy ambitions
A new development in the United States has excited the world’s energy experts, as the dream of reaching unlimited energy is now one small step closer. The US has been developing a new approach to revive the aging nuclear sector to increase energy output capacity, but there has been a major hurdle in developing unlimited power for the world, namely, achieving zero-power criticality.
Zero-power criticality is a term used in the nuclear energy sector that refers to the self-sustaining chemical reaction of uranium-235, which is needed as a precursor to actual nuclear energy production from reactors. Cold criticality, as it’s sometimes referred to, comes when a reactor’s fission system does not reach full operating temperatures, meaning it produces zero heat and therefore no power.
The latest development in reaching zero-power criticality has emerged as a team of researchers has taken a major step in reaching cold criticality on a major US-based nuclear energy project. Valar Atomics has been conducting tests to try to reach that critical number that precedes nuclear energy production.
The company has been working alongside the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and its important National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) to reach the landmark zero criticality number, which will provide the foundation for nuclear energy projects in the United States. The US has been attempting to revive its nuclear energy sector in recent months, thanks to a new directive from the President.
“Project NOVA provides us with real-world data which will help us answer key questions about TRISO fuel performance in our core and validate our proprietary software stack, which we use to design our power reactors.” – Sonat Sen, Valar Atomics’ Lead Core Designer
Zero criticality is needed for nuclear energy projects to commence
The impossible number allows the team at Valar Atomics to safely say that they are making progress in advancing the nuclear energy sector in the United States. Cold Criticality is a necessity for understanding the physics behind nuclear reactor technology, and thanks to the new milestone achieved by Valar and its partners, the world is one step closer to unlimited, free, clean energy.
As new and astonishing advancements in nuclear energy technology emerge, reaching the impossible number for the team in Nevada means that Valar Atomics is one step closer to reaching its nuclear energy goals for the US market.
“I’m incredibly proud of the Valar team that took this from blueprint to splitting the atom, securing the first criticality ever achieved by a venture-backed company. We extend our gratitude to the phenomenally talented team at Los Alamos and especially NCERC for their close partnership on Project NOVA.” – Isaiah Taylor, Founder & CEO, Valar Atomics
Valar Atomics can safely say they have reached zero criticality
The team has noted that the impossible number of zero criticality exemplifies its safe and astonishing nuclear reactor program, which has garnered the interest of the federal government. With a litany of companies developing amazing new technologies for the energy market, the fact that Valar Atomic has reached zero criticality marks the ongoing efforts in the United States to increase energy output from its nuclear sector. Thanks to Valar Atomics, the revival of the US nuclear market is moving forward.